General

[Mando Medic]

Here are the mandolins that were tasted by John Reischman at Wintergrass on February 26 in Tacoma Washington.

Mandolin Tasting 2004 instruments



Track Instrument
1. 1924 Gibson Loar F-5
2. 2001 Michael Heiden F5
3. 2004 Keith Newall A5
4. 2002 Icesicle A5
5. 2003 Arrow Archtop
6. 2003 Collings F5
7. 2001 Weber Bitteroot F5
8. 2001 John Sullivan F5
9. 1917 Gibson A3
10. 1924 Gibson Loar w/Virzi F5
11. 1979 Givens A6
12. 2003 Zeke Griffin F5
13. 1938 Gibson A40
14. 2000 Tacoma M3
15. 1982 John Monteleone F5
16. 1998 Flatiron A5
17. 2002 Mid MO M2
18. 2003 Peter Coombe A4
19. 1924 Gibson F4
20. 2000 Weber Y2K
21. 2004 Michael Lewis F5
22. 1909 Gibson A1
23. 2001 Nugget F5
24. Same re-recorded
25. 2002 Michael Heiden F5
26. 1903 Gibson A
27. 1996 Gibson F5G
28. 2002 Weber Absaroka A5
29. 2002 Collings MT2
30. Same re-recorded
31. 1923 Gibson F5 Loar
32. 2001 Lloyd LaPlant F5
33. Same re-recorded
34. 2003 Brentrup F5
35. 1998 Coulson F5
36. 2003 Craig F5
37. 1998 Cliff Sargent F5
38. 2004 Breedlove KO
39. 1918 Gibson A
40. 2003 Husky F5
41. 2003 Lawrence Smart F5
42. 2002 Old Wave Watermelon A5
We will post some of the MP3 files here at Mandolin Cafe in a few weeks. Thanks to all for your help and loan of your instruments. Kenc

[mcmando]

Now that's a nice list! I can't wait 'til the CD comes out.

Why no Rigels, Ken?

Matt

[mrmando]

No Rigels 'cause I got there late!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif I brought the G95 to the ballroom but I missed out by a couple of minutes.

[Tim Saxton]

Ken,

I really liked the 1924 F4.

I just wanted to say thanks for what you do in the Mandolin community and the Northwest Bluegrass scene as well.

I hope you got to see most of the instruments even though your head was buried at that dat deck.

Thank You Ken!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Tim Saxton

[mcmando]

mrmando,

Bummer! That G-95 is one sweet sounding Rigel. It'd probably compare favorably against many that were tasted.

[Fuzzyway]

Ken has handed over the DAT tape and I am starting to edit and compile for the CD. As usual there is some great sounding mandos in this tasting.

That 1924 F4 definitely has the sound.

Fuzzy

[Mando Medic]

I deliberatly didn't bring any Rigels including a G5, a Jethro Burns and several others I have in stock because I thought we would have others show up. But they did not. I apologize for that as I wanted to have a couple in there too. Perhaps next time.

My back may have been turned and my headphones were on listening and I have to say there was only one weak instrument in that group. Oddly enough, it's not obvious which instrument it was. The Loars this year were just stunning. By the way, the Brentrup was not a F-5, but it was an F-4, model M22V in varnish. You have to hear it to believe it. Bill Bussman's Water-mandomelon was the highlight for me. Can't wait to hear it on the CD. Thanks to Fuzzy for his great skill in engineering on this and the other two projects. Kenc

[PCypert]

It would have been nice to have a Rigel on the cd, but then again if anyone is really interested they can always go to the webiste. Not exactly the same environment, etc. But at least you have a chance to hear it. A lot of these other mandos you'll only hear if you're fortunate enough to know someone that has them. So you're stuck buying blind if you want to go out on a limb. Anyway, thanks for what will be offered!
Paul

[mandopete]

Another vote for that '24 F-4, it was da-bomb!